''Kara no Kyoukai: The Garden of Sinners'' ("The Edge of Emptiness"/"Empty Boundaries") is a novel by [[Franchise/{{Nasuverse}} Kinoko Nasu]] of TYPE-MOON/Notes fame, written before he became involved in the VisualNovel business. Though considered by many to be the prototype of ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}'', it is much, MUCH more complex, sometimes to the point of being MindScrew, so much so that some people don't want to accept that they are related at all, other than the fact that they are made by the same people.

Shiki Ryougi is a girl who grew up in a family imbued with supernatural powers. In particular, certain members possess something close to dual personalities; the "male" and "female" sides, who are aware of each other, are both conscious, and are essentially the same person with different qualities. This dual consciousness combined with her upbringing has led her to [[NotGoodWithPeople avoid other human beings' company]].

One day at school, however, she encounters an empathetic classmate, Mikiya Kokutou, who tries to break her self-imposed isolation. Soon thereafter, gruesome murders begin occurring across the city, and one night, Mikiya stumbles upon Shiki standing over a headless corpse, knife in hand. Refusing to believe that she was the killer, Mikiya slowly creeps into Shiki's life... until [[LoveMakesYouCrazy he grows too close]].

''I don't... want to die...''

[[DissonantSerenity A warm smile.]]

''I want to kill you.''

June 1998. Shiki Ryougi wakes up from a coma; her eyes are bandaged. In her mind, she feels only " "--utter void. Her memories are a blur, and she feels disconnected from them, as though they are not her own. Her doctor tells her that it was a car accident. She wants to be rid of those eyes; eyes that stare into the void. A woman stops her, saying that they are "too wasteful to destroy"; after all, they are the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception.

''Kara no Kyoukai'' follows Shiki and the ''Garan-no-dou'' detective agency as they meet various, seemingly unconnected aberrations occurring within the city which seem to have something bigger behind them than it first appears. The novel can also be read as a story of Shiki coming to terms with the death of her other self--the only soulmate she ever had or needed before. As one of the earliest works within the Franchise/{{Nasuverse}}, it also introduces most of TheVerse's fundamental concepts, including [[OurSoulsAreDifferent souls]], [[TheLifeStream Akasha]], [[GaiasVengeance Counter Force]], [[FunctionalMagic Magic and Magecraft]], and Origin.

Each of the first seven chapters was adapted into a movie by Creator/{{ufotable}} from 2007 to 2009, and the original epilogue was released as a 30-minute OVA in February 2011. The DistantFinale ''Mirai Fukuin/Future Gospel'' received a movie adaptation in 2013, and was released on Japanese home video in February of 2014.

Now with its very own [[Characters/KaraNoKyoukai Character Page]]. You can read the novels' translation [[http://emptyboundaries.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/kara-no-kyokai-translations-2/ here]], translated as "Empty Boundaries". The last additional chapter, translated into English, can be found [[http://forums.nrvnqsr.com/showthread.php/86-Kara-no-Kyoukai-Mirai-Fukuin here]].%%Put both the novel translation and the common translation for future reference.----!!The series as a whole provides examples of:

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[[folder:Overarching Tropes]]* AdaptationDistillation: The author of the original novels had hoped to rewrite several of the stories to be less "clumsy". Then he read the script for the first movie, and concluded that there was no need--they'd already addressed his concerns by cutting out most of the excesses.* AlternateContinuity: WordOfGod states that there can only be one user of the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, which means either [[VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}} Tohno Shiki]] has them, or this Ryougi Shiki. In addition, Aozaki Touko's goal contradicts with the existence of the True Ancestor Arcueid, also from ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}''. See the YMMV page for a different interpretation.* AnachronicOrder: Chronologically, the story begins in 1995, but the first chapter is set in June 1998. The viewer is thrown abruptly into the story [[InMediaRes from the middle]], without explanation of the powers, relationships, and backstory of the cast, which are elaborated upon later. Familiarity with the Franchise/{{Nasuverse}} helps. To make things simpler, the chronological order of the stories is 2, 4, 3, 1, 5, 6, 7.* AncientTradition: The Ryougi Family, as well as other members of the Demon Hunter's Association.* AudibleSharpness: Done to excess in the film adaptation.* BabiesEverAfter: [[spoiler:Shiki and Mikiya have a daughter named Mana in the distant future shown in "Mirai Fukuin".]]* ChastityCouple: Shiki and Mikiya, to the point of one time sleeping in the same bed with their clothes on and not doing anything.* {{Chiaroscuro}}: ''Kara no Kyoukai'' loves shading, and shading loves ''Kara no Kyoukai''.* ColorMotif: More frequent in the first movies, but the colors red and/or green are often used when something ''bloody'' is about to happen. Even more noticeable in the third movie, where [[spoiler:it turns out that Asagami Fujino's ability stems from her eyes, which can generate a red and green spiral to bend objects and people.]]* CompilationMovie: ''Kara no Kyoukai Remix: Gate of Seventh Heaven''. ''Totally'' incomprehensible if you haven't watched the full movies already, but at least they rectified Satsuki's complete lack of backstory in the sixth movie. It also adds in [[spoiler:the first meeting of Mikiya and "Void" Shiki]].* CoolOldGuy: Akitaka, the Ryougi manservant.* EarnYourHappyEnding: ''A prayer is something overflowing with the good news of the future...''* EnvironmentalSymbolism: See ColorMotif. All fights also usually happen in the night.* EveryoneIsBi: Several concepts tackled in the series present the idea that a person's gender in correlation with their sexual orientation is never truly fixed, and that every person has a dual mentality within themselves.* EvilPlan: As perpetrated by Araya Souren.* {{Expy}}: Oh boy, where to start? Quite a few TYPE-MOON characters have their origins (if only in appearance) in this series. It's probably easier to list the characters who aren't Expies of someone or other.** Mikiya is borderline-indistinguishable to Shiki Tohno.** Tomoe Enjou looks rather a lot like Shirou Emiya.** For that matter, Mikiya's cousin Daisuke Akimi is the inspiration for Kiritsugu Emiya.** Azaka bears a resemblance to Akiha from ''Tsukihime''. In addition, when we see her as a child in the sixth movie, she looks a lot like Rin Tohsaka. She has shades of Satsuki Yumizuka as well.** Lio Shirazumi is probably the inspiration for Arcueid (in appearance only, though: blonde hair, red eyes, claws, skirt/dress) and also a precursor to both SHIKI (being a sort of 'mirror image' of the protagonist Shiki as well) and to an extent, Nero Chaos's ability, what with the whole 'beast' thing he's got going on.** Nero Chaos is also evidently inspired by Araya Souren, going by their rather similar outfits and the weird lines they have on their faces. Hell, they even have the same VA in the movies/''VideoGame/MeltyBlood''.*** In ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'', we have Kotomine Kirei, who shares color scheme, similar outfits and Joji Nakata's voice with both of them.** Fujino Asagami. Purple-haired character who suffers [[spoiler: sexual abuse]]? Sounds a lot like Sakura Matou.** Shiki Ryougi has a fair resemblance to Mitsuzuri Ayako, and Anime/{{Canaan}} looks like a younger version of her, albeit with an obvious palette swap. Also, Canaan's Mystical Eyes are ''not'', well, of Death Perception.* FunctionalMagic: Magecraft is defined as "artificial reenactment of Magic", requiring EquivalentExchange, whereas Magic is "achieving the impossible" (e.g., Operation of Parallel Worlds). * GenreBusting: It's a mix of romance, horror, UrbanFantasy, murder mystery, and action.* InTheBlood: Many characters in the story belong to families who are listed under the Demon Hunter's Association detailed in ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}''. [[spoiler:Families in this group tend to partially have monstrous blood, which is partially the reason for their supernatural abilities.]]* InformedAttribute: The Ryougi are a Yakuza family, this is barely a part of the narrative, there are no further depths to it, no one chastises, recognizes, mentions, praises, gets shocked for Shiki being part of it, there are no gang rivals, no turf wars, no problems with the police; nothing to place value to this fact happens until the very last event in the very last Novel / Movie gives some weight to it.* InvisibleToNormals: Minor supernatural beings (e.g. ghosts, fairies) generally can't be seen as they are not powerful enough to manifest.* ItGetsEasier: Presumably why the Ryougis insist that a person can only commit one murder--no murder will be as difficult or as totally warping to the mind as the first.* {{Leitmotif}}: In the movies, a specific tune (heard with lyrics [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ug3lTXXH0g here]] is usually associated with Shiki (see also ThemeMusicPowerUp). The villains in part 5 also get Leitmotifs representative to their personalities (that [[AxCrazy Alba's]] sounds vaguely like "Hall of the Mountain King" may be a reference to ''Film/{{M}}''). Shiki's {{Leitmotif}} even finds its way into ''VideoGame/MeltyBlood Actress Again'' as her stage's music.* TheLifestream: Akasha, the Root of everything and nothing, the beginning and the end, the Swirl of Origin, etc. TheNothingAfterDeath would be more appropriate a description,though you're still sort-of conscious in it.* MagiBabble: Almost a given with any Franchise/{{Nasuverse}} work.* MagicalEye: Several characters possess Mystic Eyes, with abilities ranging from "Suggestion" to the famous "Eyes of Death Perception." By extension, this also includes HellishPupils. Most are [[GlowingEyesOfDoom quite colorful when activated]]. [Insert ''Franchise/{{Dune}}'' reference here]. * MundaneUtility: The theater PSA for the fifth movie has Araya use his bound field to deny Neco-Arc cell phone service.* NothingIsScarier: The parts that just follow one character walking alone in [[SceneryGorn decaying/highly industrial]] [[CityNoir urban environments, by night,]] [[DarknessEqualsDeath in almost complete darkness]].* OfficialCouple: Shiki and Mikiya.* OldSchoolBuilding: The sixth book/movie's climax takes place in the abandoned school building in the Reien Girls' Academy.* OneSteveLimit: You have Ryougi Shiki, and then you have her alternate personality, also named Shiki.* ParanormalInvestigation: Touko's agency, ''Garan no Dou/The Hollow Temple'', is doing this.* PragmaticAdaptation: The film cut out a good number of things from the novel, and yet manages to garner a generally positive reception.* PsychicPowers: Several types. It is fundamentally different from Magecraft in that it is not a learned ability, but a one-time mutation.** [[MySignificanceSenseIsTingling Clairvoyance]]: [[spoiler:Asagami Fujino eventually gets to this.]]** [[MindOverMatter Telekinesis]]: [[spoiler:Asagami Fujino's main ability.]] "...Bend."** [[TeleportersAndTransporters Teleportation]]: One character gets close; "true" spatial warping, however, is said to be the domain of true Magic.* RousseauWasRight: Subverted. The series plays around with the idea of ''fate vs. will'' (mainly through the concept of the ''Origin'') in correlation with each of the villains' respective [[StartOfDarkness back-stories]].* SceneryPorn: There are some ''very'' nice landscapes shown, even though they tend to be of decrepit buildings and city areas.* SortingAlgorithmOfEvil: Averted; the BigBad and the mastermind behind most of the story has only one proper appearance in the fifth chapter.* SuperDeformed: The hilariously cute opening stop motion "don't smoke" warnings to each movie.* SuperWeight: Let's rank 'em.** ''Muggle Weight'': Kokuto Mikiya (UnfazedEveryman), Enjou Tomoe (OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent)** ''Iron Weight'': Ouji Misaya (can cause LaserGuidedAmnesia via her [[TheFairFolk fairy]] {{Familiar}}s)** ''Abnormal Weight'': Shirazumi Lio (less of a CharlesAtlasSuperpower and more like {{Transhuman}} caused by MagicEnhancement) ** ''Super Weight'': Fujou Kirie (MindControl), Kurogiri Satsuki (MindControl), Kokuto Azaka (KillItWithFire)** ''Hyper Weight'': Asagami Fujino (Super [[MindOverMatter Telekinesis]], clairvoyance), Cornelius Alba (high-speed spellcasting, powerful puppets), Aozaki Touko ({{Immortality}}, superpowered puppets, rune magic), Ryougi Shiki (mystic eyes superpower, highest-ranking SuperSpeed)** ''Deus Weight'': Araya Souren (ImplacableMan, {{Immortality}}, NighInvulnerable, ForceField, SuperSpeed, crushing space-time attack, RealityWarper inside the temple)** ''Author Weight'': [[spoiler:Ryougi Shiki's Third Personality]]* ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything: Did you know the Ryougi are a Yakuza family? You wouldn’t be the first not to know since they aren’t seen doing anything of sorts beyond a very specific scene, and the Anime adaptation barely touches upon this, in fact only the very last Movie hammer this fact with [[spoiler:Ryougi’s foot soldiers accosting Mitsuru over a debt of his]].* TitleDrop: The epilogue, which also explains what "The Boundary of Emptiness" is. [[spoiler: It is Shiki's third, but original personality, the Void, Akasha, the root of everything itself.]]* UnfazedEveryman: Kokutou Mikiya, completely normal guy working for a magus.[[/folder]]----!!#1: "Overlooking View"/"Panorama" (September 1998)The first chapter abruptly focuses on a mysterious series of apparent suicides, as schoolgirls begin throwing themselves off of a certain abandoned building without reason. Ghosts are seen [[strike:flying]] floating in the area.

[[folder:Tropes in Chapter/Movie #1]]* ButterflyOfDeathAndRebirth: Go on, guess what insect is in the opening a lot. You'll never guess.* ContinuityNod:** Kind of backwards, but there's a scene in which the events of the third movie are reported on by the news on TV. Novel readers and people rewatching the movies will catch it, but otherwise it'll pass by without notice.** When Touko is [[spoiler:fixing Shiki's artificial arm]] she makes a nod to the third movie's antagonist.* EvilHand: [[spoiler:Shiki's artificial arm]] gets remotely possessed by a ghost and tries to choke and throw her off a building.* LeaveTheCameraRunning: There is a very ''long'' scene of Shiki ([[spoiler:with one arm]]) eating ice cream that takes about a minute and a half. It's supposed to be symbolic and a PetTheDog scene about Shiki and Mikiya's relationship, but to some viewers comes off as a little silly.* ProductPlacement: Said ice cream is prominently stated to be Haagen-Dazs in both the movies and the original novel. And Shiki's fridge is shown as being empty except for the ice cream and several bottles of Volvic water.* SophisticatedAsHell: Mikiya drops this:-->"She is either an eminent virtuoso, or just a big weirdo."* SpoilerOpening: Who was the girl on the ceiling that commits suicide at the end of the opening credits? [[spoiler:Kirie Fujou, the current antagonist.]]* SuicideIsPainless: Basically the entire story has to do with this concept.* PsychicAssistedSuicide: The schoolgirls throw themselves off the building because of this. * WeirdMoon: The first film does this both times in the background when Fujou Kirie is seen.[[/folder]]

----!!#2: "Murder Speculation (Part 1)"/"The First Homicide Inquiry" (March 1995 - February 1996)This chronologically-first chapter shows the initial meeting of high school classmates Ryougi Shiki and Kokutou Mikiya. As he gets closer to Shiki, Mikiya finds out about her dual personalities. Meanwhile, Mikiya's cousin, police detective Akimi Daisuke, warns him of a serial killer who stalks the town at night, leaving behind gruesome corpses. Only one piece of evidence has been left behind: the badge of attendance for their school.

[[folder:Tropes in Chapter/Movie #2]]* DramaticPause: Several minutes worth at the end. And good Lord, they were gripping.* CliffHanger: [[spoiler:The chapter ends with Shiki about to kill Mikiya with a smile on her face.]] See TimeSkip.* EnemyWithin: Shiki herself doesn't care, but her male side is essentially a BloodKnight.* GaussianGirl: Shiki when she and Mikiya first meet. * HiddenEyes: [[spoiler:Shiki when she goes partially AxCrazy]].* MistakenForMurderer: Done straight and serious.* ShoutOut: Two plushie cat dolls, one black and one white, both with ribbons, are won by Kokutou in a UFO Catcher game to give to Shiki; these are Len and White Len from ''VideoGame/MeltyBlood'' in cat form. Appropriately, this is when Shiki tells him about [[spoiler: her multiple personalities.]] Only in the films, though. The cameo didn't happen in the original novels... probably because the original novels predate ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}'', and thus, ''VideoGame/MeltyBlood''.* SnowMeansDeath: "April 1995. I met her."* SnowMeansLove: "April 1995. I met her."* TimeSkip: The end moves the story back to July 1998. Not to mention within the story it jumps from March-April to August to September to December to January and then finally February.[[/folder]]

----!!#3: "Lingering Sense of Pain"/"Lingering Pain" (July 1998)Ryougi Shiki's first case after her awakening from the coma. The unassuming Asagami Fujino, a girl unable to feel pain, experiences life for the first time in the passion of killing. As Aozaki Touko and Kokutou Mikiya investigates the truth behind this murderer, Ryougi Shiki hunts her down, leading to a confrontation between the two very different kinds of Mystic Eyes.

[[folder:Tropes in Chapter/Movie #3]]* AssholeVictim: The punks who raped Fujino.* BattleInTheRain: Shiki's final fight against Fujino.* FanDisservice: The scenes of Fujino [[spoiler:being abused and raped by the delinquents]].* PetTheDog: In an odd way; Shiki [[spoiler:lets Fujino live by killing her appendicitis]], which by her standards is petting the dog.* ProductPlacement:If you look at the shoes of one of the punks during the rape scene in the alley, you'll see the familiar sight of the Converse logo.* ScaryShinyGlasses: Kokutou, of all people. Granted, [[spoiler:he's being told how one of his former friends and his buddies abused Fujino]], so he's disgusted.* {{Tearjerker}}: [[spoiler: '' "I... don't want to die... I want to live more... I want to feel more... I want to talk with him more... I want to love him more... I want to be here longer... I don't want... to die... Oh it hurts... It Hurts so bad I want to cry... Can I cry?" '']][[/folder]]

----!!#4: "Hollow Shrine"/"The Hollow" (June 1998)Ryougi Shiki awakens from her coma, and is immediately restrained after attempting to gouge out her own eyes. For two years, she has been staring into " " - not just "emptiness", but a complete void without meanings, forms, or concepts. And she is alone - SHIKI has disappeared. Chronologically the second chapter, this chapter covers Shiki's recovery, the consequences of her coma, and her struggle to survive while submersed in death.

[[folder:Tropes in Chapter/Movie #4]]* ChekhovsGun: The corpse being carried in one scene. It becomes the zombie that will attack Shiki later.* ContinuityNod:** Fujou Kirie (from the first movie) can be seen in the background in one scene.** The nurses comment that Touko is replacing Araya as a counselor at the hospital.** There's also the post-credits scene, showing how Araya Souren is connected to the first three parts.* ExpositoryHairstyleChange: When Shiki first wakes up the fact that her hair is now past shoulder-length lets us know she's been asleep for a long time. Add an ImportantHaircut later and you know she's serious.* EyeScream: One of the first things Shiki does upon waking up is try to claw her own eyes out, as the result of a FreakOut upon realizing what her eyes can see.* OutOfClothesExperience: While in the Void Shiki is depicted as being completely nude.* SoundtrackDissonance: There's a rather eerie scene in which a recovering Shiki is being attacked by a zombie in her hospital room, overlayed by Mikiya (elsewhere) singing "Singing in the Rain" (possibly a ShoutOut to ''Literature/AClockworkOrange'').[[/folder]]

----!!#5: "Paradox Spiral" (October-November 1998)Enjou Tomoe flees his apartment after killing his parents and unexpectedly finds sanctuary at Shiki's place. Tomoe then finds that his parents have apparently failed to stay dead, and that's only the first sign of the abnormalities surrounding the building. Things get bloody messy, and Touko meets some old acquaintances. This movie is notable in that [[spoiler:Shiki kills off the BigBad of the series here, while the following two movies explore the loose and still-unused plot threads]].

[[folder:Tropes in Chapter/Movie #5]]* AlasPoorYorick: [[spoiler:Touko Aozaki]] gets this treatment.* AllThereInTheManual: The concepts in this movie are a ''lot'' clearer after reading the novels. The movie is also more passive over the fact that [[spoiler:Tomoe escaping and Shiki and Touko getting involved (most of the plot, really) were caused by the Counter Force manipulating them to have the situation resolved.]]* AnachronicOrder: Deserves separate mention here. The movie plays out in three "arcs"--one from Shiki's perspective, then one from Mikiya's, and lastly a finale tying the two together--divided by title cards with a hand-sketched appearance. Several short scenes are repeated verbatim, such as Mikiya's surprise at Shiki's locked apartment door, with others shown from different perspectives. The long flashback as [[spoiler:Shiki breaks out of Araya's confinement]] fills in some gaps towards the end.* AndShowItToYou: Araya ''rips out'' [[spoiler:Touko's]] heart, which is [[BeatStillMyHeart still beating]], and yet, being the Franchise/{{Nasuverse}}, they still manage to have a philosophical conversation. [[spoiler:Touko gets better]].* BloodlessCarnage: Despite the large amount of blood elsewhere in the movie, the scene near the beginning of Tomoe [[{{Matricide}} killing his mother]] is oddly lacking. [[spoiler:This lack of blood is actually a critical clue to what's really going on]]. This also works as an effective MindScrew, since when blood starts appearing again it has a jarring effect.* BrainInAJar: [[spoiler:Everyone in Tomoe's apartment is just a puppet, with their brains actually kept alive in a pile of jars in the basement]].* ContinuityNod: Done very literally in-story with a completely different (and ''important'') meaning: while Shiki is basically [[spoiler:''in'' Akasha and viewing all the moments]] the Counter Force had an influence on the situation, she sees the moment she first met Mikiya -- and "that her" stops talking, ''looks up at the screen where [[spoiler:Shiki is watching from Akasha]], and smiles at her.'' This is a '''''huge''''' plot detail.* DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu: Enjou didn't have a chance against Araya. But ''damn'' did he tell him off.* EldritchAbomination: The ''thing'' in Touko's briefcase. Sometimes it just resembles a traditional [[{{Obake}} bakeneko]]. Others....* {{Expy}}: Cornelius Alba is basically the most disgusting parts of [[Literature/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory Willy Wonka]] and [[Film/AClockWorkOrange Alexander De-Large]] rolled into one humanoid mass; combining the arrogance and bad-fashion sense of both. He even goes as far as to gleefully sing ''Bethoven's 9th Symphony 4th Movement,'' the favourite tune of Alex from ''Film/AClockWorkOrange'', when he [[spoiler:tried to murder Mikiya in a chillingly sadistic torture scene.]] Maybe not so coincidentally, Mikiya himself has sung ''Singin' In The Rain,'' the song that Alex sung while raping a writer's helpless wife, ''twice'' in the film series.* FreeFallFight: During the climax, when [[spoiler: Shiki fights against Souren he jumps off the building with the intention of destroying it with Shiki inside, but Shiki follows him and lands the final blow in the middle of the air]].* IfItsYouItsOkay: After thinking for a minute, Kokutou decides that [[SingleTargetSexuality he'd probably like Shiki the same regardless of her gender.]] Though he does add that he's pretty happy that she's a girl.* InnBetweenTheWorlds: The Cafe Of Impossible Meetings, Cafe Ahnenerbe. Used in this series between Life and Death.* InnocuouslyImportantEpisode: Sure, the plot seems weak and confusing now, but it'll all make sense once the seventh movie actually shows you what the heck was going on!* MalevolentArchitecture: Araya's apartment building is made this way on purpose, to drive people crazy.* {{Matricide}}: The movie starts with Tomoe killing his mother in self defence, after she murdered his father. Treated oddly sympathetically, despite the rather... strange circumstances that turn out to be surrounding it.* MeteorMove: After fighting with Shiki and realizing that she is stronger physically, [[spoiler:Araya teleports from the tenth floor (where they both are) down to the the grounds outside. Shiki goes to the nearest opening, jumps down--from the tenth floor, I remind you--and lands sword-first right on top of him. Though the impact breaks the usually [[KatanasAreJustBetter invincible Japanese Sword]] and knocks Shiki out in process.]] And even then she was only saved by the BigBad's Mobile Bounded Field (kind of like a shield) taking most of the landing impact (it's slightly implied he activated it on purpose for that reason).* MindScrew: Of truly epic proportions. Without reading the novels, you really need to see this film at ''least'' twice to even get a rough idea about what the blazes is going on. A great case of AllThereInTheManual (listed above). Half the reason for the mind screw is not just because of the mind screw nature, but because the movie left out parts that are necessary to put everything together, leaving you with a general sense of "wtf" as you try to put together the gaps.* OffModel: Shiki's fight against the zombie puppets.* PetTheDog: Shiki goes somewhere between this and {{Tsundere}} (but not quite - she is ''very'' hard to categorize) when she starts stabbing her pillow in frustration while griping about Mikiya's absence to Tomoe.* SingleStrokeBattle: Shiki vs. zombie. Zombie explodes in half.* SnowMeansDeath: [[spoiler:When Araya dies]]* StartOfDarkness: A flashback/dream of Araya's shows him standing in the aftermath of a bloody conflict 200 years ago, looking at the corpse of a little boy who got caught up in it. He resolves that since he cannot save anybody, he will at least [[spoiler:collect and record the deaths of people and reach the origin so he can end this world so there can be no more meaningless deaths]].* TalkingIsAFreeAction: Touko chatters on about her meaning of life for a ''while'' after [[spoiler:Araya rips her heart out]] and only seems to actually [[spoiler:die when he crushes it in his hand]].* TomatoInTheMirror: [[spoiler:The Tomoe who interacts with Shiki is a fake, as he himself confirms when he finds the BrainInAJar with his name on it]].* WhyDontYouJustShootHim: Subverted. Araya mercilessly ''destroys'' [[spoiler:Touko, but keeps her head alive]] on purpose - she's [[spoiler:created an exact duplicate of her own body and linked them to herself. Whenever she is "killed" the other body awakens, allowing her to come back - when Alba crushes her head, she comes back]]. ''With a vengeance''.[[/folder]]

----!!#6: "Oblivion Recorder"/"Records of Oblivion" (January 1999)Azaka and Shiki go to the Reien Girl's Academy to find the culprit behind a rash of disappearing memories caused by "fairies".

[[folder:Tropes in Chapter/Movie #6]]* AnachronismStew: Satsuki Kurogiri's desktop computer has a flat screen monitor, which were very expensive for the time and rather uncommon compared to [=CRT=] monitors. Given it appears larger than available [=LCD=] monitors at that time, this seems like a genuine mistake.* BettyAndVeronica: In [[WrongGenreSavvy Azaka's]] mind. She's the Betty, while Shiki's the Veronica who is trying to take Mikiya away from her.* {{Bowdlerization}}: The child prostitution and teen pregnancy subplot between [[spoiler: Tachibana Kaori and Hayama Hideo]] in the novel is reduced to drug addiction in the movie. Which is odd, considering [[spoiler: Asagami Fujino's [[FanDisservice rather graphic rape scenes]]]] in the third movie were preserved. They also left Kurogiri-sensei's fate unclear: we never see [[spoiler:Ouji kill him in the ending. It actually looked like Shiki simply cut him as he restored her memories, but then the scene ends, which might imply that he died in that encounter.]]* BreatherEpisode: The film adaptation turned this chapter into one by shifting the focus onto Azaka. The sixth novel is just as grim as the rest of them, but the movies give you a breather before a soul-shatteringly traumatic finale.* DartboardOfHate: Azaka uses a plush doll of Shiki for her magical targeting practice.* DrivenToSuicide: Tachibana Kaori. [[spoiler: In the novel, she intended her suicide to be atonement for her and her classmates' sins; see EnjoKosai below.]]* ElaborateUniversityHigh: Reien Academy.* EnjoKosai: [[spoiler:What Tachibana Kaori's class ended up doing, with ''their teacher'' Hayama Hideo as the pimp. Kaori herself was the last to hold out due to her Christian convictions, and ''[[MoralEventHorizon was raped and impregnated by the said teacher as a result]].'' Both aspects were cut out of the movie.]]* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Azaka's crush on Mikiya is pretty obvious. Shiki knows about it and says she isn't the only one who has noticed it, but [[ObliviousToLove Mikiya]] doesn't know.* TheFairFolk: And we're ''not'' talking about the packaged-for-kids Christmas version. Oh no. These are the child-kidnapping, terrifyingly alien kind all over.* FoeTossingCharge: Azaka performs one of these against [[spoiler:the big demon flower controlling Ouji]]. She even finishes it off with her best approximation of a [[Anime/GunBuster Super Inazuma Kick]].* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: [[spoiler:The random giant flower thing]] in the movie.* LighterAndSofter: The ''least'' violent and disturbing entry in the saga, at least the movie adaptation.* RivalsTeamUp: Shiki and Azaka. * RomanticTwoGirlFriendship: Implied of Ouji and Tachibana, what with the persistent [[FlowerMotifs white lily motif]].* SchrodingersCat: [[spoiler:Tachibana dies in the novel and but survives and awakens from coma in the movie.]]* ShoutOut: Azaka mentions she's dogsitting for her roommate Seo. Keen Franchise/{{Nasuverse}} fans will assume she means Seo Akira, Akiha's friend in ''[[VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}} Kagetsu Tohya]]''. [[spoiler:When we get to see her at the end of the film, she does indeed appear to be a tously-haired {{Expy}}, although she's evidently not the same one - the ''dog's'' name is Akira.]] In addition, the headmistress of the Reien Girls' Academy is mentioned to be one Mother [[VideoGame/MeltyBlood Riesbyfe, who has a large stringed instrument case]] in her office.* {{Sneezing}}: Touko does this when Shiki and Azaka find her picture in the yearbook.* TeethClenchedTeamwork: Shiki and Azaka. * TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Shiki and Azaka.* VitriolicBestBuds: Azaka actually respects Shiki, and is quite fond of her; the feeling is mutual on Shiki's part. The girls understand each other enough to laugh at and finish the punch line of each-other's jokes, and marvellously complementing each together in abilities on the battlefield. The ''one'' thing that prevents them from actually openly admitting their friendship to one another is their mutual love for Mikiya.[[/folder]]

----!!#7: "Murder Speculation (Part 2)"/"The Second Homicide Inquiry" (February 1999)The murders from before Shiki's coma resume, and both Shiki and Mikiya are trying to find the killer.

[[folder:Tropes in Chapter/Movie #7]]* BookEnds: A number of themes from ''Overlooking View'' (as well as the other five movies) get a reprise here.* CherryBlossoms: [[spoiler:The post-credits scene.]]* CryCute: Is ''that'' actually [[spoiler:Shiki]]? My God she's ''adorable.''* CurbStompBattle: Averted, contrary to popular belief. [[spoiler:While it looks as if Shiki was able to take out Lio easily in the final battle, her earlier confrontation proved he was more than a match for her. The novel elaborates, outlining how Shiki was still experiencing the lingering paralysing effects of the drugs, and Lio was weakening Shiki's limbs one by one like a predator slowly taking down its prey, with the final blow directed at her neck. Had she waited a second longer, she would have died. When she chose to fight back, Shiki basically [[CounterAttack took full advantage]] of the amount of space between them and struck as effectively as she could at precisely the right moment to ensure he went down before he could injure her further. The result was a SingleStrokeBattle.]]* EarnYourHappyEnding: [[spoiler:A few minutes from the end of the movie, Mikiya is apparently dead from a stab to the face, and Shiki's resigned herself to death after killing Lio. The situation improves.]]* EvenEvilHasStandards: Mikiya obtains info on the drug-related serial killings by the only drug dealer around who's not selling that particular new cocktail, because she thinks it's too damaging for the human body. Possibly she's being [[PragmaticVillainy pragmatic]] - dead customers aren't repeat customers.* EyeScream: [[spoiler:Mikiya loses his left eye towards the end of the movie. Considering Lio was trying to kill him, he may have gotten off lucky.]]* FanDisservice: Anything [[spoiler:Lio does to Shiki, especially the drooling all over her after ripping open her kimono with his teeth. That he's modelled himself after her doesn't make it better.]] Yuck. Also anything [[spoiler:[[HoYay he does to Mikiya]], including EyeScream]].* {{Fingore}}: Shiki breaks free of the bindings holding her hands by [[spoiler:''gnawing her thumb off!'']] Of course, [[spoiler:that was off her [[ArtificialLimbs artificial hand]].]]* IndirectKiss: Shiki refuses a canned sweet drink when Mikiya offers her one, but says she changed her mind and drinks it after Mikiya drinks a bit of the can. * IronicEcho: [[spoiler: Lio's diary starts with one. "April 1995. I met her."]]* {{Irony}}: [[spoiler: Mikiya ended up becoming Shiki's reason for being a murderer.]]* PlotBasedVoiceCancellation: The night train passes by as Kokutou learns the drug dealer's name, [[spoiler:Lio Shirazumi]].* SnowMeansDeath: [[spoiler: When Lio dies.]]* SnowMeansLove: "I'm never letting you go."* StalkerShrine: Featured in the opening credits, and it's hella creepy. Shows up again when [[spoiler: Mikiya investigates Lio's apartment]]. More detail is given and the camera pans around to truly show all the pictures.* TheyWereHoldingYouBack: [[spoiler:Lio believes this about Mikiya and Shiki, and tries to murder Mikiya to prove that he and Shiki are NotSoDifferent.]][[/folder]]

----!!Epilogue: "Boundary of Emptiness" (March 1999)The original epilogue of the series, where Mikiya meets Ryougi Shiki--[[spoiler:Shiki's "third" personality, a.k.a. her archetype/Origin, a.k.a. the AnthropomorphicPersonification of the Void/Nothingness itself]]--under circumstances very similar to his first meeting with Shiki.

[[folder:Tropes in the Epilogue]]* TheReveal: [[spoiler:Shiki's Origin and nature is finally spelled out.]]* TalkingHeads: There is literally nothing happening in the epilogue except Mikiya and Shiki discussing the secrets of the universe.* WalkAndTalk: At some point, Shiki starts walking up the road and, for a bit, their dialogue continues on the move.[[/folder]]

----!!"Future Gospel" (August 1998 & 2008)Consists of two parts. "Möbius Ring" takes place between "Lingering Sense of Pain" and "Overlooking View" and concerns a psychic bomb-maker's attempts to assassinate Shiki to prevent her from revealing his identity to the police. "Möbius Link" takes place ten years later. The overarching topic of this chapter is precognition and clairvoyance.

[[folder:Tropes in "Möbius Ring"]]* AnachronicOrder: The anime adaptation jumps back and forth in the timeline, in a way similar to, though easier to follow than "Paradox Spiral".* [[FourLinesAllWaiting Two Lines, Both Waiting]]: The story basically consists of two plots related only by their overarching theme and occurring at the same time.* HowWeGotHere: The anime adaptation opens with a graphic scene of Shiki walking into a DeathTrap and being shredded to pieces by shrapnel. The rest of the movie shows how she ended up in that predicament.* RubeGoldbergDevice: Basically, how Meruka Kuramitsu's precognitive powers work. By doing specific but often unrelated things in a specific sequence, he is somehow able to bring about a very specific future he foresaw.* {{Seers}}: Touko gets to exposition two types of precognitive talents in Nasuverse: one extrapolates the most likely future scenario from the available data (kinda like a mystic weather forecast), while the other allows the wielder to set up a specific future they desire.* SlidingScaleOfFreeWillVsFate: Both Shizune and Meruka come to believe that their futures are predetermined BecauseDestinySaysSo, but Shizune is proven wrong when Mikiya simply acts on her prediction and saves the life of a man whose death she foresaw, while Meruka learns his lesson in a much more violent and traumatic fashion from Shiki, who [[spoiler:literally destroys the future he set up for her, taking his precognitive ability as collateral damage]].[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tropes in "Möbius Link"]]* KnightInSourArmor: Mitsuru, kinda. [[spoiler:Having experienced a time where everything he started was automatically 100% successful, he perceives his current life, full of uncertainty, as one long string of failures. Still, he ultimately finds this alternative much better than being effectively doomed to win at all times.]]* TheStinger: In the grand tradition of the ''Rakkyo'' anime adaptations, this one has a hidden scene after the credits, in which [[spoiler:Mother of Mifune reads SHIKI's fortune shortly before his suicide and realizes that there is literally no future timeline in which he survives the next few weeks. He is OK with it, though, since she also reads that his dream will live on and eventually be realized]].* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: This chapter is basically this to the protagonists and the antagonist of "Möbius Ring": Shiki and Mikiya are married and have a daughter, Mana; Shiki is also the new head of the Ryougi family enterprise (a.k.a. yakuza); and Mitsuru has become a moderately successful children book writer and was hired by Shiki has her organization's on-staff PI.[[/folder]]

----!!"Extra Chorus"A compilation of short stories occurring in-between the original chapters: "Feline" after "Lingering Sense of Pain", "Daylight" after "Overlooking View", and "Say Grace" after "Paradox Spiral".